£310,000 Raised for Good Causes

Brighton and Hove Pride is a Pride to be proud of. It is a Pride With Purpose. Alongside the smiles, sunshine and good times, Brighton Pride’s sole ethos is to raise funds and awareness.

In 2016 Brighton Pride broke all targets by raising £100,000 for local organisations and good causes bring the total to over £310,000 in the past three years.*

Through the Rainbow Fund Grant Awards, Brighton Pride supports local charities and community organisations that change the lives of those living in our city. Groups benefitting this year included Allsorts Youth Projectwho provide vital support for young people; MindOut who deliver pioneering work for people with mental health issues; GEMSand Older And Out both organisations who are providing essential social networking and support opportunities for older people and the LGBT Community Safety Forum who this year delivered the Accessibility Matters project making Pride more accessible and safer for disabled, blind, deaf and older people.

In addition to Pride’s continued commitment to fundraising for the Rainbow Fund, 2015 saw the launch of the new Brighton Pride Social Impact Fund as Pride works with community organisations to develop projects and ideas that will be of social benefit to the wider community. Organisations receiving grants this year included the Marta Scott Dance Companyto help disadvantaged or abused women; the St James’s Street Community Action Groupfor security lighting to deter drug dealers; and Little Green Pig, a creative writing educational charity helping 9-11 year olds create a film on homelessness in the city.

Jeremy Ogden, chairman of the St James’s Street Community Action Group, said: “The St James Street LAT is delighted to receive some funds from the Social Impact Fund which we can use toward making the area a better place for all.”

Julie Watson, co-director, Little Green Pig said: “We are delighted! Thanks to the fund we’ll be able to make a film to capture the project our young writers are working on with Brighton Housing Trust for the Fringe Festival.”

Brighton Pride were thrilled to receive an accolade for the Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity By An Organisation, sponsored by The Argus, at the 2015 Sussex Business Awards at the Grand Hotel in Brighton.

As well as our fundraising, Brighton Pride also has a campaigning theme of Uniting Nations which an opportunity to turn the spotlight towards our global LGBT+ neighbours. We will highlight the plight of communities living in fear of persecution, in fear of their lives or struggling for the freedom to live. The global Pride events where rainbow flags on the street are forbidden, marches banned, participants are bullied and harassed, and campaigners beaten and arrested.

Brighton Pride is a community event committed to the belief that equality matters, and that by campaigning and fundraising together we can achieve so much. Every ticket bought, every Pride supporting party, every proud business sponsor, every fundraising event, every donation, indeed every person can make a difference.

Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton Pride CIC, said: “We would like to thank everyone who attended Pride 2015 and helped us raise this record amount to benefit local LGBT and HIV organisations providing effective front line services to the LGBT communities in Brighton and Hove. Pride’s sole aim is to provide benefit to the community and all ticket revenue raised goes directly to the operational and running costs of producing the Pride Festival, Pride Community Parade, Pride Village Party and Pride’s community fundraising campaigns. We would like to thank our volunteers, Pride sponsors, local businesses and our statutory partners that help us deliver Pride each year.”